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Mudge had consisted of the hopes and fears； expressed mainly by
himself； involved in the question of their getting the same dates
a question that； in proportion as the delight seemed assured；
spread into a sea of speculation over the choice of where and how。
All through July； on the Sunday evenings and at such other odd
times as he could seize； he had flooded their talk with wild waves
of calculation。 It was practically settled that； with her mother；
somewhere 〃on the south coast〃 （a phrase of which she liked the
sound） they should put in their allowance together； but she already
felt the prospect quite weary and worn with the way he went round
and round on it。 It had become his sole topic； the theme alike of
his most solemn prudences and most placid jests； to which every
opening led for return and revision and in which every little
flower of a foretaste was pulled up as soon as planted。 He had
announced at the earliest daycharacterising the whole business；
from that moment； as their 〃plans；〃 under which name he handled it
as a Syndicate handles a Chinese or other Loanhe had promptly
declared that the question must be thoroughly studied； and he
produced； on the whole subject； from day to day； an amount of
information that excited her wonder and even； not a little； as she
frankly let him know； her disdain。 When she thought of the danger
in which another pair of lovers rapturously lived she enquired of
him anew why he could leave nothing to chance。 Then she got for
answer that this profundity was just his pride； and he pitted
Ramsgate against Bournemouth and even Boulogne against Jerseyfor
he had great ideaswith all the mastery of detail that was some
day； professionally； to carry him afar。
The longer the time since she had seen Captain Everard the more she
was booked； as she called it； to pass Park Chambers； and this was
the sole amusement that in the lingering August days and the
twilights sadly drawn out it was left her to cultivate。 She had
long since learned to know it for a feeble one； though its
feebleness was perhaps scarce the reason for her saying to herself
each evening as her time for departure approached： 〃No； nonot
to…night。〃 She never failed of that silent remark； any more than
she failed of feeling； in some deeper place than she had even yet
fully sounded； that one's remarks were as weak as straws and that；
however one might indulge in them at eight o'clock； one's fate
infallibly declared itself in absolute indifference to them at
about eight…fifteen。 Remarks were remarks； and very well for that；
but fate was fate； and this young lady's was to pass Park Chambers
every night in the working week。 Out of the immensity of her
knowledge of the life of the world there bloomed on these occasions
as specific remembrance that it was regarded in that region； in
August and September； as rather pleasant just to be caught for
something or other in passing through town。 Somebody was always
passing and somebody might catch somebody else。 It was in full
cognisance of this subtle law that she adhered to the most
ridiculous circuit she could have made to get home。 One warm dull
featureless Friday； when an accident had made her start from
Cocker's a little later than usual； she became aware that something
of which the infinite possibilities had for so long peopled her
dreams was at last prodigiously upon her； though the perfection in
which the conditions happened to present it was almost rich enough
to be but the positive creation of a dream。 She saw； straight
before her； like a vista painted in a picture； the empty street and
the lamps that burned pale in the dusk not yet established。 It was
into the convenience of this quiet twilight that a gentleman on the
doorstep of the Chambers gazed with a vagueness that our young
lady's little figure violently trembled； in the approach； with the
measure of its power to dissipate。 Everything indeed grew in a
flash terrific and distinct； her old uncertainties fell away from
her； and； since she was so familiar with fate； she felt as if the
very nail that fixed it were driven in by the hard look with which；
for a moment； Captain Everard awaited her。
The vestibule was open behind him and the porter as absent as on
the day she had peeped in； he had just come outwas in town； in a
tweed suit and a pot hat； but between two journeysduly bored over
his evening and at a loss what to do with it。 Then it was that she
was glad she had never met him in that way before： she reaped with
such ecstasy the benefit of his not being able to think she passed
often。 She jumped in two seconds to the determination that he
should even suppose it to be the very first time and the very
oddest chance： this was while she still wondered if he would
identify or notice her。 His original attention had not； she
instinctively knew； been for the young woman at Cocker's； it had
only been for any young woman who might advance to the tune of her
not troubling the quiet air； and in fact the poetic hour； with
ugliness。 Ah but then； and just as she had reached the door； came
his second observation； a long light reach with which； visibly and
quite amusedly； he recalled and placed her。 They were on different
sides； but the street； narrow and still； had only made more of a
stage for the small momentary drama。 It was not over； besides； it
was far from over； even on his sending across the way； with the
pleasantest laugh she had ever heard； a little lift of his hat and
an 〃Oh good evening！〃 It was still less over on their meeting； the
next minute； though rather indirectly and awkwardly； in the middle；
of the roada situation to which three or four steps of her own
had unmistakeably contributedand then passing not again to the
side on which she had arrived； but back toward the portal of Park
Chambers。
〃I didn't know you at first。 Are you taking a walk？〃
〃Ah I don't take walks at night！ I'm going home after my work。〃
〃Oh！〃
That was practically what they had meanwhile smiled out； and his
exclamation to which for a minute he appeared to have nothing to
add； left them face to face and in just such an attitude as； for
his part； he might have worn had he been wondering if he could
properly ask her to come in。 During this interval in fact she
really felt his question to be just 〃HOW properly？〃 It was
simply a question of the degree of properness。
CHAPTER XV
She never knew afterwards quite what she had done to settle it； and
at the time she only knew that they presently moved； with
vagueness； yet with continuity； away from the picture of the
lighted vestibule and the quiet stairs and well up the street
together。 This also must have been in the absence of a definite
permission； of anything vulgarly articulate； for that matter； on
the part of either； and it was to be； later on； a thing of
remembrance and reflexion for her that the limit of what just here